via Bulawayo faces pollution sanctions – Southern Eye 24 June 2015 by Silas Nkala
BULAWAYO City Council and nine local companies face sanctions from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) after investigations revealed that they discharge 99% of their raw effluent and harmful chemicals into Umguza River.
This was disclosed during the trial of Pottery Industry and its top official Tamuka Zinyengere who are facing charges of discharging harmful chemicals into the river.
Zinyengere, through his company lawyer Leslie Sibanda, denied the pollution charge when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Charity Maphosa.
EMA quality manager Clorence Matewe, testifying in the matter, revealed that the city council and nine firms were likely to be dragged to court soon to face the same charge.
Matewe, an expert in chemical components, told the court that tests conducted at Umguza River and its tributary in the Belmont Industrial area revealed that council contributed 90% of the pollution in Umguza River while Pottery Industry contributed 1% and other nine companies contributed 9%.
During cross examination, Matewe claimed the findings were accurate and Pottery Industry discharged chromium which was found in the effluent.
He said that the other culprits would be brought to court to answer for their transgressions.
State allegations were that on April 2014, EMA officer Kwanele Ndiweni carried out inspections along Matsheumhlope River, which passes through Bulawayo’s industrial area, and discovered that a storm drain that passes next to Pottery Industry owned by John Pietersen was contaminated by industrial effluent.
Further investigations revealed that Pottery Industry was illegally discharging effluent into the storm drain that feeds Matsheumhlope River, which is a tributary of Umguza River, polluting it for a distance of about 6km.
Samples were collected and results from the EMA laboratory proved that of the 18 parameters analysed, 11 were beyond the permissible limits.
From results obtained, Pottery Industry was identified as carrying environmental pollutants found in Matsheumhlope River.
The matter was reported to police, leading to the company being summoned to court. The case was remanded to June 29.
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